WHO ARE YOU?

By Jay Pearson

 

Who are you? Do you know who you are? I’ve asked myself this question many times, usually right after a blunder or misspoken word. Not believing I did that or spoke that left me to wonder again, who am I? The more I looked at my errors the more I erred. It’s time to change my focus. Maybe you feel that way at times when you consider who you really are.

The whole purpose of this sharing is that you would love yourself more. Not because of anything you have done, but because of everything God has done for you. May we not only KNOW who God says we are, but BELIEVE what he says about us.

The first place I think of looking for the answer of who we are is in Ephesians chapter 2. I recall something about being God’s workmanship.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Wow! God not only tells us that we are his workmanship, but he tells us our purpose here on earth. Let’s look closer at our purpose:

John 6:29
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We are God’s workmanship. A craftsman’s workmanship is not haphazardly thrown together. Most definitely God’s workmanship is not thrown together. It is designed and perfected in and with his perfection. The closer you look at God’s creation the closer you see his perfect work. All God’s creation in nature is the same way. Put a blade of grass under a powerful magnifying glass and be ready to be awed. It’s time to take a closer look at what he has designed and continues to fashion in us. It’s time to focus on our perfection in Christ and not our imperfection in self.

John 12:36
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

1 Kings 8:60-61
60 That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.
61 Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.

For our heart to be perfect with the Lord we need to walk in his statutes and keep his commandments. Jesus gave us commandment that we should love one another as He loved us. We aren’t always so lovable, but he loves us anyway and we are to love others like that.

God views his workmanship as finished. We see it now as a work in progress.

Ephesians 2:6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Philippians 2:13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

We need to walk in the grace God has given us so that we focus on his work in us. If you truly see yourself as a son of God, guess what? You’ll walk like a son of God and you’ll talk like a son of God out of our fear of the Lord and love for him. Hey, if you think you are a duck you’ll walk like a duck and you’ll quack like a duck. If you think you’re a screw up, guess what? Eventually your head will leak into your heart and you will screw up. Yep, that’s right, that’s the way it is. This is not positive believing doctrine. This is a consequence of thinking God’s thoughts or contrary thoughts in your heart. You can’t change your heart, but God can.

Proverbs 4:23
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

What you immerse yourself in that is what you will reflect. Let’s "look unto Jesus" and walk in his steps. But before we read 2 Corinthians 3:18, let me add this. We are not all preachers, teachers, realtors, retirees, mothers, cooks, singers, golfers, young or old, but we have this opportunity to minister in those fields of employment or recreation that we live in. We have the unique opportunity to reflect Christ in us to those who are witnessing our life. Birds of a feather flock together.

2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The Lord does the work. You don’t believe it to be. You are his workmanship because he did the work. He willed us to be.

Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

He did the work. We just need to believe his work.

Here are more verses describing God’s workmanship in you that he created in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 2:5
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Who are you?

1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Who were you?

Ephesians 2:11-12
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Remember, this is not for self-pity or to acknowledge your lowly worth. This is for thanksgiving toward the Lord for our deliverance. Also that we would praise and glorify God our Father and his Son Jesus Christ.  

Who are you NOW?

Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Yes, it is God’s workmanship and not our own.

Ephesians 2:19-22
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

1 Kings 8:60
That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.

Who are you?

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Let’s walk like his workmanship and talk like his workmanship and reflect his workmanship as we obey, believe, and trust in God and his Son Jesus Christ.

WHO ARE YOU?

We are sons of the Living God! Amen.

 

---

Presented in French Settlement, LA, on May 13, 2018